The Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran

No-action motion on draft resolution

A/C.3/66/L.56

on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Speaker against the no- action motion

Iceland

Mr. President.

I have the honor today to speak on behalf of seven countries, Andorra, Australia, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland, as well as my own country, Iceland, against the no-action motion just put forward.

The General Assembly has entrusted its Third Committee, a body of universal membership, with the mandate and responsibility to debate and act on human rights issues, including by addressing “human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives”. Today, a motion has been introduced that would in effect prevent this Assembly from fulfilling its mandate and acting on a recommendation by its Third Committee.

The responsibility to address human rights issues does not rest exclusively with the Human Rights Council or its Universal Periodic Review mechanism. We believe that any motion to preclude a discussion of human rights issues in the General Assembly is not only unjustified; it undermines the credibility of this body.

The General Assembly and its Third Committee do enrich the international human rights dialogue, with its discussion, interactive dialogue with the special rapporteurs and representatives and consideration of human rights issues and situations. However, this can only take place provided that every serious human rights issue put forward for discussion is debated and considered on its merits. For this reason, not least, we are keen to know the views of all other delegations on the draft resolution before us.

We will vote against the "no-action motion" and encourage all other delegations to do the same.